Material distributing apparatus



Nov. 4, 1952 A.- H.-sANBoRN Er`AL 2,616,756

l MATERIAL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 194s 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INI/EN T0125 A Patented Nov. 4, 17952 2,616,766 MATERIAL Dls'rnIBU'rlNG APPARATUS Arthur H. Sanborn and Arthur A. Giesen, lChicago, Ill.; said Sanborn assignorto said Giesen Application August 24, 194s, serial No. 45,918 7 claims. (c1. 'soz- 53) yespecially directed to the problem of handling small amounts of materialwith a oo ntinuousand substantially uniform flow. By wayof illustra tion, andv not by way of limitation, the present construction will handle a i'low'of nefhalf pound of granular material distributed substantially uniformly over the period of an'houn "A flow of this character represents such ,a small amount of material handled per minute or per second that it is diflicult to uniformly supply it. Mechanical means for measuring and moving such small amounts of material are diicultto design and control. There are various collateral diflicultiessuch as preventing packing of the material and the clogging of small passages orchambers.

` While thepresentinvention is of broadapplication where the continuous supply of small quantities of granularv material .are desired, it is especially adapted for use in connection with the sup,- ply of certain materials to re boxes or combustionchambersof boilers or the like. Materials have been developed which, when .fed in slowly, disintegrate insulating deposits of firescale :soot andslag in. such re boxes and prevent the Afur-- ther accumulation of such deposits or coatings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for the handling of granular and powdered material.

It is a further object to proyidea methodand apparatus of this character which is .designed to handle such .materials continuously with the distribution of small quantities. It isalso ran object to provide such apparatus which moves larger quantities v,of .material and selects and distributes small Aportions of the ma terial moved.

It is, anadditional object to `provideapparatus which comprises a hopper for holding material and, in addition to continuously distributing smallquantities from the hopper, movesfthelmaterial inthe hopper in such. manner fasfltofile" ventpacking or lcakin'g ,of the .material r.l cldg'gl'ng of any of the or'lces.

It is a 'further object to provide a method and apparatus whichprovides air ow through rthe material in such manneras to dry the material land remove moisture therefrom. "It is also an bject to provide a method and apparatus in which the circulation or ymovement vo'f'ithematerial is controlled by the amount and vpressurefof 4the'air usedand which may serve to ifurther :pulveriz'e the material. d

Itisanadditional object to provide a method and v apparatus wliich'aidsV in mixing different ingredients in vthe'material being handled and in maintaining lthe mixture.

""Itfis'another object of the invention to proyide ap p `v atus which, mits normal operation, h a's a l`self-' fclela'rnlng actiommaintainng' all suraces and o rjces cleanv and free from unwanted fciepsits of material.

It is also an 'object to provide a CQhStruction whichmoves Ythe material, selects a desiredpor- 'tion'ortransi/'er and delivery and provides additional means forlaccomplishing the delivery.

'It isan additional objectto provide apparatus of thischaracterfwhich operates by fluid pressure and is devoid of mechanically'moving operating parts.

IOther and further objects will appear as the description Proceeds.

' We have shown certain Vpreferred embodiments ofcurinventionlin the accompanying drawings, in wh'i'chvFigure 1 isa perspective view, partly broken away, show'inslthe apparatus;

` Fig..2jis a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig- .Figure 3 isjasection taken on line 3-3 of Figu 11e l;

Figure 4 isa vertical section through the hopper and control apparatus, Darts being broken away tojjshowthe.construction;

' 'Figure 5 is anfvelevation 'of the central tubular member including the ports and Acontrol orices; "..Figurefisasection taken on line 6-6 of Figure mand Figure 7 is asecton taken online 7 7 of Figurej.' l

In the drawings, the hopper 2l is provided witha conical bottom portion 22 tting into the body'.memberv 23 of the apparatus. vThis hopper 2| isprovded with a movable cover 25 and with an internally tted sieve member 26. `The body member 23l'1as anair bore 28 formed therein and the air inlet pipe 30 isthreaded into the wallfoi the inem 'e'rj'23 to discharge injsai'd bore. The

"valve 'f32'isfcontrol1'ed by ja A solenoid '33, 'this 'solehoitl being actuated `bylmean's of y'current lsupplied through wires 34. This may be any usual type of solenoid valve and is normally in the closed position. A second air passage is formed in the fitting 36, this passage being controlled by a manually adjustable valve 38 in the tting. The speciiic forms of these valves form no part of the present invention and they will not be described in further detail.

Air under pressure is led to the fitting 36 through tube 4t and intermediate T-tting 42. The tube 43 connects the fitting 42 with the lower end of the tting 45. This fitting 45 includes a jet 46 directed into the throat of the discharge venturi 41. This venturi may be connected by any suitable pipes or passages to the place where the material is to be transported or used. The itting 45 is secured in the upper cylindrical wall of the hopper 2| and has a tubular portion 49 projecting through that wall. The deflecting guide member 5| carries the tubular member 53 at its upper portion, this member 53 having an extension 55 which ts into the tubular portion 49 of the fitting 45. A shoulder 51 is formed on the tubular member 53 to insure proper relative location of the parts,

The interior construction of the apparatus is best shown at the lower portion of Figure 4. The lower portion of the conical hopper 22 is held in the body member 23 yby means of the fitting 6U which extends downwardly through the central opening in the member 23. The upper portion of the tting 'E0 has a circumferential ridge 63 which ts in a corresponding circumferential groove in the lower end of the hopper to retain it against displacement from the body 23. The tting 6|] is held in place by means of the nut 65 which is threaded on a lower portion of the fitting and which bears against the under face of the body member 23.

The chamber 28 in the body member `23 communicates through passage 61 with a chamber 68 in the cup-shaped lower cap-member 69. This member 69 is threaded into the lower side of the body member 23 at 19, a gasket 1| being provided in order to secure an air-tight joint. l

The tubular member 12 is fitted in the axial opening in the member 6e and serves to control and direct the fluid iiow. This member 12 -carries a split ring 14 fitting in a groove 15, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This split ring 14 bears against the lower face of the fitting E!) and is held against that face .by the securing nut 16 which is threaded on the tting 6|) and has a flange 11 underlying the split ring. The tubular member 12 has a central opening 19, as shown in cross section in Figure 7. This opening carries the square plunger 8| which ts in the circular opening in such manner as to provide a substantial unoccupied area for passage of air orgas under pressure from chamber 53 up through the interior of the member 12. This plunger 8| carries a cross pin 82 which ts against the inner face of the cap 33 threaded on the bottom rof the member 12. The spring 35 is tted around the plunger 8l, bearing at its upper end against the upper face of the recess 36 formed in member 12 and bearing at its lower end against the cross pin 82 to normally maintain the member 8| in its lower position. The upper end of member 8| carries a pointed plunger Sil adapted to't into the orifice 99 formed in the disk 9| seated in member 12. It will be noted that the disk 9| carries a conical shoulder 93 surrounding the ori.-

flce M. AThis conical shoulder 93 extendsup be are narrow and shallow.

formed in the wall of the member 12. The Venturi tube 91 is tted into the upper portion of the fitting 12 and its lower end bears against the disk 9| and retains it in place. The lower portion of the Venturi tube 91 is formed with orices aligned with the ports 35 in the member 12. A guide tube |09 is fitted upon the Venturi tube 91, its lower portion resting on the upper edge oi the fitting 12.

The lower chamber 8S in tting 12 communicates through ports |92 with the circumferential channel |93. Leading upward from the channel |93 are a plurality of spaced grooves |05 which These grooves |55 eX- tend above the lower edges of the ports 95 in member 12, as best shown in Figure 5.

The deiiector 5| fits over the upper portion of the tube |00 and is provided with a cover member |01 which extends up the major portion of the upwardly extending leg of the deflector 5|, as shown in Figure l. This cover |01 tting on the deector 5| makes, in eiect, a flat tube eX- tending upwardly with the tube |05 located approximately in its center, as shown in cross section in Figure 3. A V-shaped divider |09 is secured to the deflector 5| at a point adjacent the upper end of the cover member w1.

As shown in Figure 2, the deiiector 5| is provided with an elongated orice which communicates with the tube 53. Deflecting members I3 and I |4 are secured adjacent the lateral edges of the orifice the member ||3 being. longer than member H4 and extending beyond the inwardly curved end of the latter. member. A short cover member H5 is secured to the under face of deflector member 5| below the orice and deiiectors ||3 and I4. In Figure 1, pressure gauge ||1 has been shownV connected to the chamber 68 in the member 69 so-that the actual air pressure present may be determined by the operator and, also, the functioning of the solenoid 32.

In the use of the apparatus, tubing 46 will be connected to a source of supply of air under suitable pressure such, for example, as the amount of twenty to twenty-:tive pounds per square inch. It will be understood that if the air under pressure is available only under higher pressure, any suitable pressure reducing valve Ymay be used to bring the desired pressure to pipe 40. The material to be distributed is poured into the hopper 2| through the sieve 28. This material is `placed in in such quantities so as not to completely lill thehopper but to be located in theconical lower section 22. The cover 25 may be used as a measuring device for selecting the quantity desired for a single change of the hopper. The air underpres sure flows continuously through the bypass which is controlled by the manually adjustable valve 38 into the bore 28 in the body 23. This-air under pressure passes downwardly through passage 61 into chamber 68 in the cap 69. A portion of the air passes up around member 8| to the orifice in the disk 9|. This air will be in such amount as to be inadequate to draw in the material and discharge it to any substantial distance or in any substantial quantity from vthe top of tube 96. A further portion of the air will pass through lateral ports |92 to the channel |03 and up through grooves intermediate ports 95 where it will be discharged into the -mass of material in the lower portion of the hopperrand in the tting 5|), This small continuous air supply does not .operate to cause the discharge of lany material from the hopper. It does, however.

egerfevce Vprevent the materialfin 'the `hopperJfrom Asettling :and `.clogging the various foriceszsinceit keeps. it .stirredv up andinf'motion in the-lower `.par-tof lthe hopper. It alsoaidsindry-ing thematerialor in maintaining itfdry.

`When itis-.desired `to.` discharge 4material. from 'the' hopper, the solenoid valve :'33 .lis-operated to permitV direct newofairhin substantial quantities -intobore 18. This-.air` takes f the same -paths '.as Ihave-been. describ'ediinv connection with the con- -tinuous air supply, .but is adequate in amount. to

Aprovide `aflow* through -oricef90 whichdrawsup througlrth'e Venturitu'bel'a v'supplyof the nely fdivided material inthe'hop-per. This material has been drawn into the Venturi tube by suction'throughjports295. '-'Ihis nely divided material is oatedand'lcarr-ied by the air blast through the tube vup through the rectangular lower portion of the deector I and-thefflow is divided bythe V.shaped de-ector IUS. A portion of the material drops down back intothe'hopper, while a portion iscarried up against the'deflectors II3 and II4. A small portion of this material passes between these two deectors'a'nd through orifice -I I I--aud tube 53--into fitting- 45,

The jet 46fserves-to-cause a suction in tube 53 and helps-to -draW-the-material into that tube, from which itis ,-drawngiinto :and ejected from the venturi 41. This materialmay then be carriedfor ,any desired distance and for any desired'purpose. It willv be understood that if the carry is to be long, additional ttings, such as 45, and jets, such as 46, may be supplied at intervals along the line of movement. The deflecting and directing means are such that only a very minute portion of the material ejected from the tube I00 actually reaches the discharge tube 53. Thus, it is possible to very slowly discharge material from the hopper. The material which is moved and which returns to the lower part of the hopper is again acted upon when it, in turn, reaches the bottom of the hopper adjacent the ports 95. This recirculation of the material aids in drying it and, also, in keeping it loosened up and thoroughly admixed.

When the valve 32 controlled by solenoid 33 is not in operation, the air coming up through grooves I05 keeps the material stirred up and ready for instant, uniform operation of the apparatus when valve 32 is again opened.

It will be apparent that the various bales and surfaces against which the granular material is directed have a crushing or breaking effect on the material, dependent upon the strength of the material and the size of the venturi and the amount of flow therethrough. Additional deecting bales may be added if it is desired to increase any crushing action.

It will also be apparent that the continued recirculation of the material, the major portion of which remains in the hopper, serves to maintain a uniform mixture if the material consists of a plurality of ingredients. The continuous flow of air through the material and its drying action are particularly important in preventing caking when the materials being handled are such that take upv moisture from the atmosphere or Where the apparatus is located and operated in places of high humidity.

It will be apparent that, by variation of the size of the various orifices and formation of the venturi, the amount of material discharged from the lower tube |00 may be controlled within wide limits. It will also be apparent that by the formation of the deflectors and dividing means such Aasflllll, IIR-and I I4, thexportion offtheimaterial ymoved which'. is :actually carried. out yof Lthahopperv mayalso'bevaried .within very. wide limits.

Should zthepapparatus* become4 clogged f for any reason, .such r for example as .when .standing 'idle Withmmaterial Vin the hopper land no .air suppliedto- .tube 40,- the orifice' 90 may be readily cleared. Thisisl accomplished by removing the lowercap69 and pressing upwardly against member 8l. This causes the pointed plungerirto pass upwardly-through the` orice vvand clear lthat `goriice. If -other openings .or passagesare clogged, :theA entire Venturi assembly .may .be removed downwardly fromtting; 60 by; removal vof nutit. In suchfcasegthe cover 1.25.` may bezinvertedbelow the apparatus .to-catch any-loose material: which may dropx from thevhopperwhen the assembly* is ,-remove'd. It will"A be apparent, therefore, that 1 the y'apparatus ymay be :readily cleaned;l and adjusted.

While we have shown certainpreferredmbodiments of `our finvention, these :are to be Iunderstood to hegillustrative only .as it is capable :of rvariation; toy `meet differing requirements and.l conditions, .andl Vwe contemplate suchmodifications as comewithiri the spirit and scopeof ythe appended claims.

'-Wezclaim:

1l. Apparatus forcdistributing finely divided material :which Vcomprises a -containerzfor-the material, `said container having a slopingbottom, a tubular member projecting upwardly a lower portion of the bottom, a lateral opening in the tubular member adjacent the bottom adapted to permit material to pass into said member, means for supplying air under pressure to the lower end of the tubular member, said air under pressure ejecting material from the upper end of the tubular member, discharged means adapted to select a portion of the material ejected from the upper end of the tubular member and carry it from the container, and means for guiding the flow of the material not selected, said guiding means returning such material to the' lower portion of the container exteriorly of said tubular member.

2. Apparatus for distributing finely divided material which comprises a container for the material, said container having a sloping bottom, a tubular member projecting upwardly through a lower portion of the bottom, a lateral opening in the tubular member adjacent the bottom, means for supplying air under pressure to the lower end of the tubular member, a curved guide for directing the ow of material ejected from the upper end of the tubular member, and means associated with the guide for intercepting a portion of the material from the guide and discharging it from the container.

3. Apparatus for distributing nely divided material which comprises a container for the material, said container having a sloping bottom, a tubular member projecting upwardly through a lower portion of the bottom, a lateral opening in the tubular member adjacent the bottom, means for supplying air under pressure to the lower end of the tubular member, a curved guide for directing the flow of material ejected from the upper end of the tubular member, said guide being curved and extending upwardly, outwardly and downwardly to return the material to the lower portion of the chamber, and means associated with the guide for intercepting a portion of the material from the guide and discharging it from the container.

4. Apparatus for handling finely divided material which comprises a container for the material, an upwardly extending ejector nozzle in the lower portion of the container, said ejector nozzle comprising a tube with lateral material receiving openings. an axial air jet extending above the lower edges of the lateral openings, and a Venturi section in said tube above the openings, and means for guiding material leaving the ejector nozzle.

5. Apparatus for handling nely divided material which comprises a container for the material, an upwardly extending ejector nozzle in the lower portion of the container, said ejector nozzle comprising a tube With lateral material receiving openings, an axial air jet extending above the lower edges of the lateral openings, manually operable means for cleaning said air jet, and a Venturi section in said tube above the openings, and means for guiding material leaving the ejector nozzle.

6. Apparatus for handling finely divided material which comprises a container for the material, an upwardly extending ejector nozzle in the lower portion of the container, said ejector nozzle comprising a tube with lateral material receiving openings, an axial air jet extending above the lower edges of the lateralopenings, manually operable means for cleaning said air jet, said means comprising a plunger carrying a member adapted to pass through the jet orifice and spring means normally maintaining the member clear of the orifice, and a Venturi section in said tube above the openings, and means for guiding material leaving the ejector nozzle.

7. Apparatus for handling nely divided material which comprises a container for the material, an upwardly extending ejector nozzle in the lower portion of the container for moving a portion of the material upwardly, supplementary jets adjacent the ejector to supply air for loosening and moving the material, a valve for supplying air under pressure to the jet and supplementary jets and a bypass around the valve for supplying air under lower pressure to the jet and supplementary jets.

ARTHUR H. SANBORN. ARTHUR A. GIESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 914,105 Bowland Mar. 2, 1909 1,970,405 Thomas Aug. 14, 1934 2,123,537 Marr July 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 472,837 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1937 

